I am among the living... today :D

(beware... this is a LONG one... that's what happens when I don't blog often! Now that you have been warned... *grins*... on with it.)

That's right... I'm living, not just existing today! I say this because my sister Gina posted in her Facebook status today, the question: Are you among the living or existing?

While typing my response I realized that's how I can gauge my days instead of "good or bad"... but rather living or just existing... Now had I seen that yesterday or anytime in the past 3 days I would have said I was barely existing. Yep... I was in some serious pain.

Yesterday it was so bad I almost had my hubby take me to the ER. However, I took 2 Vicodin & thought I'd rather deal with a rebound headache than the ER. (See, if you didn't know Vicodin has Acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) in it... & I was told that I get rebound headaches from it & that I should avoid anything with Tylenol... which makes it very tough for someone with Chiari Malformation & deals with daily headaches!!)

Anyway, today when I woke... after a very good solid night sleep (didn't even here Hubby get up, get the dogs out, & etc... WONDERFUL!) :) ... I felt as if I could take on the world... Ok, not really... I just felt a ton better!

Then 10 minutes later my hubby pulls in with a trailer full of stuff from the old house...

Oh... wait did you know? Yep, we've moved!!! YAHOOOOOOO... we're no longer in the city! We are in a house with 3 bedrooms (the 2 upstairs are quite small, but that will be just fine!) & FIVE acres of land! & Here's the best part... we're paying the same amount as we were on our other house... well, at least for now!

How is that you say? Well, see this house was my hubby's best bud's (DM from here on out) house! (The one that got Hubby into the dirt bike club that I created & maintain the website for.) Anyway... well, DM & his wife had been wanting to move to Tennessee for some reason & they both ended up finding jobs & said we could rent this place.

So, last month... (wow, it has been a month since we started moving in here. How time flies when you're... laid up... ha, got ya, thought I was going to say "fun", didn't ya! *giggles* Actually, I was doing good for the 1st part of the move...

Which now leads me back to the past few days... I got to thinking about how God's timing is always into play some how... & you might not see it at first when something gets postponed... but later you might just realize it was actually better. What am I talking about, you ask?

Well, in case you've missed it... (or you don't follow me on Facebook)... The surgery I was supposed to have to correct the pressure on my brain, caused by the Chiari Malformation was to have happened May 14th... however the day before I went up for pre-ops & on the way home I got the call that I had a bladder infection & they could not do the surgery. (Why The Cleveland Clinic didn't get me in the week before for pre-ops like they said they'd do still baffles me. It's just more proof that their many different departments do not communicate.) Anyway, it's now been rescheduled for August 20th, unless they get a cancellation. Which I call nearly every week to check.

So, as I was saying... I believe it was God's way of giving me the ability to be able to help out with the major part of our move... well, at least the 1st big part. I'm sure Hubby feels as if it was not the major part.

I was feeling good for several days when we first moved that I was able to get my kitchen stuff organized & some other things... I even made a batch of brownies AND frosting for it! (I had been craving frosted brownies so much.) Well... after all that, I was down for a few days again... but it seemed there for a while when ever my mother-in-law (MIL) (who has been a HUGE, no, PHENOMENAL help with this move) would come over to help... I felt "empowered" to get up & do stuff.

As many who suffer from Chiari knows (saying this because I have a ton of "Chiari Friends" on Facebook who may be reading this.)... that feeling does not happen every day. And so I've found myself on the couch a lot lately even when MIL or my mom or any visitors would stop.

Thankfully all know that it's best not to try to push me & when I say I'm not doing well.

Let's see, where was I before this tangent... Oh, yes.. Hubby & MIL arrived from the old house with a trailer full of boxes 10 minutes after I awoke. So, I was talking with MIL & sitting on the steps of our deck in the sun when she said she was going to grab a chair (from the deck) & put it in the shade... because she didn't want me sitting in the sun, but she did want me to stay outside for a little bit. (Wow, I just love that woman! Who says mother-in-laws are awful??)

Well, I had to get something to eat. So, I went in grabbed my pillow (for my back); & food & went back out on the deck to the table where hubby had put up the umbrella for. Sat out there for a bit enjoying the sunshine... watching the dogs roll around in the grass & enjoying life!

All the while, Hubby & MIL are unloading the trailer into one of the stalls in the barn. (A barn that is empty of animals... except 2 cats (mousers, Hubby calls them) that we "inherited" with the house. And he had skids to put the boxes on. I feel terrible that I can't help them... however, we all agree that I can't jeopardize it... I can't over do it!!! We just can't have me ending up in the ER again! (My last trip was in April... which that time was such a waste of time really... in my opinion.)

By the way, another thing that comes with this house is an invisible dog fence. It took a couple weeks of taking the dogs (more Hubby than me) out on their leashes with the special collars before we could let them run loose. Now that they've learned the lay of the land... (well, they're still learning & still get zapped once in a while) they can run to their hearts content. At least they do a little bit.

We both knew that it would be an advantage for Coleman to be able to go free, because he's a Border Collie & needs that "freedom" & that it would help both him & Sunny in many ways. And it was proved last Wednesday (or whenever it was) when we went to the vets to get them tested for heart-worm (both were negative, thank the Lord! Now if we can just keep them on the "meds" all the time so we don't have to do that again!)... they were weighed & both had lost a couple pounds already! Woo hoo!

What's even more amazing is that Coleman is starting (not completely yet) to walk on floors without carpet! That's a HUGE improvement, already! So, yes, we're all enjoying the new house.

I'm sure my hubby will really get to enjoy it once all of our stuff / junk has been moved over here. Because even though there are no animals (beyond the 2 cats & our 2 dogs) there's still "farming" type stuff to do around here.

He even got an old Farmhal H tractor that had been sitting in the backyard to finally work. It was so "cute" because he took it for a ride to pick up the brush-hog that goes with it. (About 20 miles away) (This tractor was a mutual friend of Hubby & DM that had brought it to this house a few months ago with the help of my hubby. Hubby ended up buying it when we knew we would be living here. It's much needed.)

Now all we need is to find a better riding lawn mower than the one we had at the old house, because DM & his wife has finally found a house in Tennessee (was living in a trailer at her brother's) & are in need of the mower that they left here. Which we knew would happen.

Up above I had mentioned about the dogs rolling around in the grass... well, I was on the phone with my mom & it was so funny... Sunny started & then Coleman plopped right down next to her & they both were on their back with their legs in the air. I just couldn't help but to laugh... Only wished I could have gotten a video of it. Well, I'm sure you can picture it!

Well, there's so much more I'd like to tell you... but I just saw Hubby pull back up again... another trailer full... which means I need to get up & get the collars on the dogs again.

So, maybe later I'll write another blog! :)

& Please forgive any grammatical errors. No time to proof read... Got to run! *waves & hits the publish button*

(P.S. As usual the blog graphic is from Glitter-Graphics.com... I mention this, because of those who may be new to my blog.)

Success at the Farm!!

Well the Celebration At The Farm (C.A.T.F.) was a huge success! :) We had a couple VERY minor glitches... but nothing we couldn't figure out a different way to handle it.

(P.S. No, we didn't have a fly over from the Blue Angels, though that would have been SWEET, ... the blog photo is from a link that my dad emailed me today... & this one picture just fit the patriotic theme! Side note... my dad & I enjoy the Blue Angels and The Thunderbirds! When I was little he would take me to air shows!)

Anyhoo, there was lots of family I hadn't seen in many many years! Many from out of state... I think Uncle Terry & his new wife Linda traveled the farthest from Florida... & then Aunt Sherrall came from Georgia... My cousin Mark (Uncle Terry's boy) came from Tennessee. And Uncle Art came from West Virgina (close to the Maryland border, I found out!) ... many relatives from the Cleveland (or surrounding areas.)

Oh, I forgot mention my hubby had family from out of state too... From South Dakota... They gathered together on Friday & I didn't get to see them because I was at the farm. But that's ok... It hadn't been that long ago that I was able to see his side of the family. (It was due to a death in the family, though.) It would have been nice to catch up with them... however, I was just too frazzled & thought it best I relaxed before the big party at the farm.

The C.A.T.F. started around 3:00p as planned... The pork from the pig roast was delicious & so was the rigatoni! Oh & can't forget... one of my cousin's brought Greek Pasta salad! SCRUMPTIOUS! (Oh, Ginna, if you're reading this... I need that recipe!!)  My sister Renee brought down from Michigan a huge Frosted Brownie sheet cake! Talk about YUMMO! (said in her best Rachel Ray impression!)

Oh, yeah... the fireworks did NOT arrive.  However... Mike, my son, had a huge bon fire set up... & neighbors down in the valley had fireworks going off... They lasted a LONG time! Very good show... (had to be to get past all them trees for us to be able to see too! LOL)... My understanding is that my mom is thinking of getting some fireworks of her own & setting them off next weekend. I don't know if I'll be there for that... It would mainly just be for Mike's benefit anyway.

I'm already thinking of ways to make next year (or when ever we do it again) even more organized. I think we should do it every year now... (because a lot of the "Tyson kids" are getting up there in years... making harder & harder to travel) ...but more like a pot luck... than to have Mom shell out the majority of the money for food.

We did have those who could, bring side dishes... however, my mom still bought a lot including the Pork (I think). Oh... don't worry, I won't have any pictures of a pig being roasted... it was roasted in a pit by one of the neighbors of the farm & carved back at the pit. THANKS RON!!!

So, how did I do? Well, during the heat of the day I kept escaping into the house to keep cool. Though it was only about 80° (thankfully not any hotter!), it didn't take long for me to get over heated. (How the older folks (like Grandma Fulton, who will be 90 years young in December!) dealt with it, I don't know!) All I know is that heat & I do not mix!!! I must had been standing or walking around to much because my back was sore most of the day. (Nothing a day or two on the couch won't cure! LOL) HOWEVER, I did not have a headache except at one point & I laid down on one of Mom's love seats for a few minutes whilst the pain & nausea subsided.

As I reflect back on the day... I did get around to talk to just about everyone. If I missed anyone, sorry... it wasn't intentional. Even though conversations were cut short most of the time... it was great to be able to chat with all!

One thing I didn't get completed in time was the guest book... however, I did create a make shift one... & it worked out fine. Though a couple people may have missed ... all & all I think the total number that showed up was 110. (Give or take a few! LOL) & Yes, majority of them was there at one time.

My hubby even commented when I got home... (he rode his Harley... & If I hadn't needed the truck & I didn't have a messed up back... I would have rode mine... It was a GORGEOUS day for a ride.... (Thank you Lord!!) ... "Were they all your family? Where did they all come from?" I'm like... "Yep! You have to remember my mom had 6 siblings growing up. (1 has passed away long ago.) Then add in their kids & their grand kids & friends of the kids & grand kids... & a some of my mom's friends & neighbors... Oh & can't forget... The Kenyans (as my mom & sister calls them)!! That would be my brother-in-laws family from Africa. They are just as sweet as Aloys (my brother-in-law) is!


This picture is of my mom & her sisters & brothers. (L to R: Aunt Sherrall; Aunt Billy; Uncle Terry; my mom (in front of him); Aunt Lynn; & Uncle Greg. (Now do you see why we had such a big turn out??!!!)

I'll have link to more photos later. I had them all ready with descriptions & all... but due to operator error... they didn't upload to Flickr as planned. I will either post another blog or a review with the photos link. (But don't expect it tonight! I plum worn out!!!)

So, yeah... it was a huge success!!

It was fun for the most part & enjoyable to see all the relatives... however, just like Mama Di is today from her family outing... I'm "paying for it"! But you know what... IT WAS WORTH IT!!!

Time to lay back & relax now!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

P.S. If you haven't seen my front / home page here... you best be taking a gander at it very soon... because it will be changing as early as tomorrow!! (Wouldn't want you to miss out seeing the other cute kitties!!)

A GREAT Subsititue...

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

I found this wonderful show, last year via You Tube... Although it is not patriotic music... it's still quite grand & well worth the 5 minutes to watch!
(Suggestion... view it full screen, with the volume up!!) :)

(I usually don't embed videos, but this worth it... IMHO!!!) :)

C.A.T.F. is ready to go...

What is C.A.T.F.? It is the acronym I gave to our party we're having at the farm... Stands for Celebration At The Farm. I know, I know... not that clever... but it was the easiest thing I could think of on short notice.

So, I used it for my signs... speaking of... I just got back from the farm & all 28 signs are up... yep, you heard right... TWENTY-EIGHT. Not all of them went on garden stakes... but most did. My mom was quite pleased at how they all turned out.

Ever since I arrived home, about an hour ago, the neighborhood has been crackling with the backyard fireworks. So, I've been sitting here with the TV off & $hiba's external fan unplugged so I could listen for Mansfield's big display. They just started about 5 minutes ago. I was hoping I could see a little bit of them from my front porch... Unfortunately not. However, I sure can hear them! & I knew for sure they were the city's show... Sounded like thunder when they 1st started.

I love that sound as they are coming out of the cannon... My dad loves the big BOOM! Oh how I wish I could see them... Mainly because the big fireworks show that we were supposed to have... well, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. My cousin who does it for us, (bring them with him & etc.), had to bail out because of work. So, he said he was going to ship them to us... but as of today, they have not arrived. We're hoping they arrive tomorrow. I have a feeling they won't show up until next week.

Well, I has to get going... long day ahead of me tomorrow! (Please keep me in your prayers... Please pray my back doesn't give me any trouble... like it is tonight... hopefully I won't be doing too much tomorrow, except mingling, chatting, eating, & having a good ol' time.)

Oh, yeah... I do plan on taking the camera... & Maybe we'll have a great sunset like we did tonight!! :)

Nighty Night! :)
(Sounds like the Grand Finale is happening.)

Bath day...

Today my good friend from high school (Passion Wolf) came over to help me give the doggies a bath. We usually take them to the groomers... but we just haven't been able to afford that extra expense... however, I think they're going to have to go to the groomers the next time because they are both in need of a trim!! (When Passion Wolf arrived, Coleman wouldn't stop licking her... until she put him in the tub for his bath! LOL)

So, what's with the picture of the car?? Well, that's my hubby car... today when he got home from his "mini vacation" he received an email that he's now an official member of a Mustang Owners "club"... Anyway, I just wanted to share the picture of his "toy" with you.

FYI - Opal Frost is a little rare color... He said he was wanting to paint the majority of it scarlet (red) (so it would be Scarlet & Gray for the OSU Buckeyes)... however, he found out that the Opal Frost is an unusual color. So, now he's just is adding scarlet stripes & etc to it. He even has a OSU helmet head on the top of his antenna. LOL

Well, the email invites have been sent to a few & calls have been made for "The Celebration at the Farm" on the 5th. To do lists have been made... & I have the formal invite ready to print... If we can get them out tomorrow. If not, no sense in printing & making copies, because it probably arrive in time.

Ok, this train has been derailed (due to tiredness)... so talk to you tomorrow!

Busy bee...

Oh, I'm not trying to steal the concept of a new found friend... Stillybee... it's just today I've been a busy bee!!

As I mentioned in yesterday's quick blog, I had to go to the farm this morning to work on the plans for the big party on the 5th...

Well, Mom & I compiled a list of names & how many we think that might come if they all were to show up... & at this moment we're at 164 guests!!! Told you it was going to be big!!! But of course... that's not a final count or anything like that... & not all that's family... however the majority of it is... over 50 of them!

So, anyway, here is MY list of to do... SO FAR... I have to make a formal invite (with a map) to email to all & to mail to those who are still in the stone age ... create a slide show of family pictures that my mom, my sister Gina & I have... organize & finish the spread sheet with everyone's email address' & other contact info... create some signs & banners... and create a newsletter / game sheet to be handed out... Oh & I have to find a true guest book... or if all else fails, I'll make one! (That may be the best bet, so I can be sure it has all the info I want for future use!!) :)

It's a good thing Mom does this only every other year... or so!! (Though it's been a few years since the last one. Not that it matters anyway.) Anyhoo... that's my list so far.

Oh... Mom & I also put together an outline of what is needed & who will be in charge of bringing and / or set up.

I already told Mom, don't be surprised if I run & hide at some point. But then again... maybe not... because I volunteered to be in charge of the "Texas Hold 'em Tournament".

Ok... with all that said... does anyone have any ideas you think we might incorporate... & maybe things for the kids to do... there will be quite a few of them! :) We've already planned on having a checkers table. It just would be great to have some back up plans... AND anything at no cost would be great... My mom is already starting to fret a little about how much all the rental stuff (like the 20'x20' tent) will be. All ideas welcomed.

How about a tip before I pull this train into the station... certain prescription containers make for a great way to carry Q-tips (cotton swabs)... at least the ones I get are just the right size!! :)

Well that does it for this trip... hope you all enjoyed your ride!!

D'oh!!! ($hiba update!!) & other happenings

ALL ABOARD!! Toot Toot!! ALL ABOARD!!! Time for another trip on "The Rambling Train"!! 

Well all, I am BACK IN BUSINESS! $hiba is mended... it was just a simple loose cable!  I had called a professional computer repairer yesterday & he offered to bring over an external keyboard to test if I did short out the motherboard, or if it was just the keyboard it's self...

So, he stopped by today... We sat out on the front porch (which was so neat... 1st time I sat out there with $hiba! ... before I go way off track... ) Anyway, we plugged in 2 different keyboards into the usb slots & they both worked. He said he didn't think it was the motherboard & thought it was just something was loose or ??

So, (hmm... I see I have a "crutch" of "so"... (that's a term in radio school about a "habit" when talking! LOL)  I said let me show you what I did... I proceeded by taking the little strip off & then unscrewed the tiny screws & lifted up the keyboard & he leaned over & tried to loosen up the clips & then that's when it dawned on me what I did! I said... if it's that's simple I would be tickled pink...

Well, as you can tell, by this blog, that's all it was!!!!! I took the cable / ribbon out of it's port & put it back in & then pushed the clips back in place... put everything back together, put the battery back in & turned on & VIOLA!!! I about cried... & I'll tell you this... had I known that guy... I might have given him a big ol' hug!! But since I just had met him, I asked for his business card for the future! He was so helpful & he didn't make me feel like the complete dork I felt like! (I'll explain in a moment why.) He was SO nice that he didn't even charge me anything... & with the gas prices I figured he might... but on the phone he said he would for just a simple little test & he was going to be in the area anyway! **WHEW** 

Needless to say I did a little happy dance after he left. & That reminded me that my back is still healing!! OUCH!... Good thing I do not have to go to a job or anything!! :) Well, I'm too happy to be in that much pain... also it helps that I am laying on the couch with my feet up as I type this! LOL! :)

Ok, on to why I felt like such a dork & why I said D'OH in the title... & Why you're probably asking why would I need to replace the keyboard on such a laptop that is only a few months old...

Well, this all started way back when I decided that I could clean under the keys by "snapping" them off... well, when I went to replace the "end" key... I some how broke the retainer clip... the thing that keeps the key in place. Instead of going to my hubby & admitting that I broke it & ask what I should do, I tried to fix it myself by super gluing the key to the clip...

Well, that didn't last long the key kept popping up & I still couldn't use the end key. So, I searched eBay & the net to see if I could find anyone selling parts & see if I could persuade them to let me buy that 1 key for a dollar or 2.... & was hopping they could just send it in a regular envelope.  The only one I could find that was selling the keys & clips wanted to charge $5 PLUS shipping FOR JUST ONE KEY!!! I'm like.. no... I can get a NEW full keyboard for about $25 total!

So, that's what I did! I bought a new keyboard... figuring once I replace the one key I could sell the rest of the keys separately, for about $2 or even less... well, when I received the keyboard the retainer clip was a little different than the one I have... so, I figured I would then just replace the whole keyboard & sell the keys separate from the old one. (Or the whole board without the "end key".)

That's when all the problems started... When I bought the keyboard I was a dork and did NOT check the part # on my current one & thought that the one I got for the particular model would work. Well, I was wrong & knew it soon as I saw that the keyboard cable was slightly different... well, it was same length & same width & all that... the one part that is different is the "wire traces" in the flat ribbon cable... Either way... I still didn't have it plugged in correctly... so maybe that's why it didn't work after I tried it... Then when I put my old one back in... I did the same thing & didn't have it completely "seated"... After calls to Best Buy's Geek Squad & a couple days of mopping around about it... I finally confessed to my hubby what I did. I told him not to chew me out because I had already been beating myself up about it.

When I said I was advised that I probably shorted out the motherboard, he's like "Duh!" & "Did you check the part #'s exactly?" So... I kept thinking well, maybe I could do this & that... Then yesterday I finally had the bright idea to call a PROFESSIONAL here in town to see if they could come by & test it... & so that's "The Rest of the Story"! (in my best Paul Harvey impression.)

At least for now it is! See, hubby is due home soon & I can't wait to tell him the wonderful news! (Yeah, yeah, I know... it's not THAT wonderful... only if you know how much this laptop means to me, you might understand!!) Anyway... when he gets home, I'm going to ask him if I should try that new keyboard again or if I should just send it back to get an exchange for the EXACT one of $hiba!! I'd hate to actually short out the motherboard by using the incorrect part AND having it installed properly!

(UPDATE: He said not to try it without checking with Toshiba if it will be a problem.)

Ok, moving on... I know some of you may not have known what was going on because you don't read everyone of my blogs or reviews... I wanted you all to know that I was still around so that's why I kept posting things like the "Blogthings" quizzes... See, I could still copy & paste with the mouse... & I really could have used the other computer to blog... but I really don't like the "JunkYard"... because it lives up to its name... I think hubby should just scrap it & start fresh! But I can't tell him that because we don't have the money to do something like that. (I cashed out my 401k from the job I was at... is how I got money for $hiba... that's for those who don't remember and / or are new to my blog!)

So, I am back in business... I do have to say this... I was "lost" without $hiba being up to her full potential!!

Now you're probably all jumping for joy that I'm back (ok, maybe not! LOL)... Weeelllll... Don't start the partying just yet... I may be doing short blogs for the next week or so... because yesterday my mom has "assigned" me a big project...

See, about every other year or so my mom would host a family reunion on the 4th of July... & Because it's on the farm... & out in the country we're able to shoot off some noise makers... So, one of my cousins puts on a fabulous & huge (for a personal show) fireworks extravaganza... & it's becoming "the talk of the town"... well, ok, maybe the valley... all the neighbors love it!

This year it's going to be on Saturday, the 5th & sounds like it's going to be bigger than usual! & it's no longer the "Tyson Family Reunion"... but rather a big ol' 4th of July celebration... not just for family... but also for friends... & friends of other parts of the family. Oh & the neighbors around the farm too! They might as well join in on the fun during the day too! So, it ought to be interesting... Mom said we're going to have a pig roast... card games (maybe even a Texas Hold 'Em tournament); croquet & much more!

Anyhoo, my mom is wanting to get an email out to all those who may not have heard about it & start getting a better head count... because I guess my older sister, Renee, is having a "conniption" since nothing is really set yet... like how many chairs & tables we'll need & etc. (Hmm... & I wonder where I get my procrastination from! LOL)... Plus I need to get a map for those who haven't been to the farm before, or were not old enough to remember how to get there!

I've even invited some friends of mine! Hey... I need someone to talk to, besides family! All I know is that with the last year or so that I have not been fond of big crowds anymore... I don't know what it is... so, I figure I'll need to do is get involved with it & I'll be excited. If all else fails I'll hide up in one of the rooms with $hiba & send you all an update! LOL!!

In between all the interruptions & distractions (of my own doing), I've been working on this blog all afternoon (talk about ADD! geez!!)... I am ready to pull the emergency break & hop off this train...

Hope you all enjoyed your ride!

(Tomorrow & future destinations: My Webkinz collection; Samantha Elizabeth; & more UFC stories! I figure if I put it here it will remind me of what I need to do! LOL)

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Since I didn't post anything yesterday... I thought I'd drop by today, before I go lay down again...

Good thing I don't have to talk out loud here, because I have a horrible sore throat. Thankfully no fever... & also, that we're doing our "celebrating" on Saturday!
So, hopefully I'll in a festive mood by then!

Have a safe & fun day!!

Welcome to July - 7-1-07

With the 4th of July almost upon us, I send my prayers & thanks to our troops here at home & a broad... fighting for our freedom that we will celebrate this coming holiday!

Thank you!!!
(P.S. This is actually my photo!!)